The Kill Team Review – War Drama Delivers with Strong Character Driven Performances

The Kill Team, from A24 Films, Nostromo Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment, presents the true story of a young private on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan who becomes unwittingly involved in the murders of civilians.

The film opens with the sounds of military gunfire, the thick whirl whips of a helicopter, sounds of firefights, and slowly fades to the less intense sounds of an automatic yard sprinkler and the voice over a young man, acting out his belief if what this TOD will become. Skateboard in hand pointed as a weapon he moves swiftly around his room, quietly barking commands to imaginary locals.

Soon the prep work is done. Andrew Briggman, played by Nat Wolff and his dad, William, played by Rob Morrow, have a moment. Even without being said, the implication of this father-son moment is clear, “come back home and don’t be a hero.”

The next scene Briggman is walking through an airport in full military fatigues when a stranger in uniform salutes him. Immediately he walks a little taller, more pride in his step and confidence in his decision.

Our next scene Briggman and his platoon led by Sergeant Wallace, played by Tunji Kasim, are instructed to perform relationship building with the locals in order to gather DNA and photographic evidence. Rayburn, played by Adam Long, Marquez, played by Brian Marc, Weppler played by Osy Ikhile, are all on stand around duty, with the new man Briggman performing body pat downs. A small uprising from a local ends up with him on his back in the dust.

Sergeant Wallace steps in to control the squad. Explaining to Rayburn his job is relationship building, stand here, remove the terminator glasses, and wave at the local village children who are watching. He explains he is going to give them candy as he says, “because he is a prince.” As he steps closer to the kids an IED explodes killing him.

Three weeks later Sergeant Deeks, played by Alexander Skarsgard, arrives. He rides in on the standing on the outside step of the helicopter and in a quiet, patient, loving tone he explains to his new team what life will be under his leadership.

He also explains the mission, cell phone triggered IED’s are everywhere and in the past 12 months have killed 24 US soldiers. Deeks, who has seen battle in Iran and Afghanistan believes in his country’s mission through his filter of interpretation.

Deeks makes life under his watch very clear. He explains life in the family stays with the family. Tactics used to illicit confessions or other information may seem harsh and even illegal or unnecessary and in the middle of battle or in the determination of the moment for the safety of the team, and the life of each man and by extension their families stateside, decisions have to be made.

For Briggman the truth of war was only bouncing around his bedroom with a skateboard and an imaginary enemy, as reality sets in, buddies with their legs blown off, dead, simply because of the uniform and nationality grey's the line between the clear illegalities stateside and needed leverage in the desert.

Many when tested find the lines blurred and the need to end the madness becomes choices which save US lives at the expense of the enemy.

As the story is true, based on the account of Private Adam Winfield, the murders of local civilians, many of whom may have been guilty of something and many who simply were guilty by association, by nationality, location, race, ethnicity. In the end the lines separating guilty blurred.

The Kill Team is an exceptional contemporary war drama with Alexander Skarsgard delivering a notable performance. His adaptation of Sargent Deeks, which may be as he was in life, presented someone whom wanted to serve. He was calm in battle, a confident with his men, gave them gifts to show his dedication to their well being and he believed life a father, when they needed to be punished, he made it clear that he would deliver than as it was needed.

The men who make up the platoon all deliver strong military performances. It is clear war polarizes the squad with those attempting to maintain some level of morality and others lost to complete lawlessness. Even the locals such as the Afghan prisoner of war played by Andreas Karras, deliver these monumental performances, with as in this case, no words.

The Kill Team is an authenticate portrayal of the war that the media and Washington would prefer the public doesn’t see. Flag draped coffins are one thing, senseless killing of civilians which could prevent some of those caskets from returning are another.

Haute Tease

The Lodge, from FilmNation Entertainment, presents a mental horror thriller as three snowbound days turn into a battle between good and evil, as the past which never really stays buried, rises from the ashes with a vengeance.

“La Cucina”, starring Rachel Hunter, Christine Hendricks and Joaquim de Almeida and directed by Alison Hebble, deals with the relationship complexities of three different couples and how they cope with the reality of impending events.

High Rise, from Magnolia Pictures, Film4 and BFI, presents a perfect allegory of the degradation of society when restraint and boundaries are completely or limited removed when a newly minted luxury apartment building faces a failure of services.

A makeshift memorial overflowing with flowers, stuffed animals and pictures of lost loved ones stands outside the Winter Cherry Entertainment complex in Kemerovo one day after a deadly inferno ripped through the upper floors killing at least 64.

Live Action and Animation Shorts, a celebrated program of mini-features, bringing a diverse and often cutting edge introduction to new techniques or trending subjects to the forefront of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the chance of winning the gold.

President Barack Obama continued to globally make his case to leaders of the G7 for unified and sectoral sanctions in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's sustained violations of Ukraine territorial sovereignty and threats of prolonged aggression.

President Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron presented a united front while the current Syrian peace accord unravels, hanging precariously in the balance, with reports of 33 civilians killed this week as rebel forces were confronted by Assad's military.

A Turkish Police officer assassinated the Russian Ambassador to Turkey in front of a horrified crowd at a photo exhibition in Ankara, the Turkish capital, over the Russian’s hard-line uncompromising commitment to Syria’s Bashar al Assad.

A huge security hole in our US elections, which allows alteration of vote totals by outsider or insider entities, was discovered during the Wisconsin recount, according to electronic security investigators from RecountNow.org.

In response to the deep interest and enthusiasm for Raumlichtkunst (c.1926/2012)by German-American artist Oskar Fischinger, Weinstein Gallery has extended the exhibition to February 10th, 2018 and hosts a lecture and exhibition tour with Oskar Fischinger curator and archivist.

Polished-casual restaurant Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, an Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) partner since fall 2012, surpassed $1 million in donations to the national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into new treatments and cures for childhood cancers.

The Adderall Diaries, from A24, presents the story of best-selling author Stephen Elliot, who, after penning the story of his traumatized childhood, is catapulted into the world of Manhattan’s literati which balloons his ego, alters his state and stills his pen.

Harriett, from Focus Feature Films, presents the true story of Harriett Tubman, a negro slave, who escaped to become a leader in the underground railroad and in her life led more than 800 slaves to freedom.